The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association is proud to announce a partnership with the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market for the summer 2023 season. To engage with the thousands of consumers in the Charlotte area who visit the market weekly, NC Soy will be planting a soybean demonstration plot at the market with different varieties of soybeans representative of the genetics and technology being used by soybean farmers in that area of the state.
Soybeans bring more revenue to North Carolina than any other crop, and yet many consumers are unable to identify the important legume. Outreach Coordinator, Faith Case, is hopeful that by planting soybeans at the Farmer’s Market, the urban consumers of Charlotte will gain exposure to conventional agriculture practices and become familiar with a commodity that is vital to the economy in North Carolina.
Research Coordinator, Jeff Chandler, will be leading the charge on planting and tending to the soybeans throughout the growing season. Chandler began preparing the plot in early April and intends to plant the soybeans in early May. Chandler had this to say about this project: “I’m excited about the opportunity to work with the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement a soybean education plot in Charlotte. Soybeans are an extremely valuable crop for NC. The soybean produces two end products: meal and oil. The meal is used primarily for our robust poultry and swine industries; the oil is used for everything from aviation fuel to cooking oil to synthetic turf and tires. We can’t wait to show farmers market consumers what soybeans are all about.”
Be on the lookout for the soybean plot at the Charlotte Farmer’s Market this Summer. To see how you can engage with your local NC farmers at the market this year, follow along with our journey on our social channels: @ncsoy.
